Tony Siketa expected to be charged over damage to Angela Carr’s corflutes
A well-known Geelong businessman is expected to be charged over damage to a council candidate’s corflutes.
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A Bell Park butcher who was caught on camera defacing the corflute of a Geelong council candidate is likely to be charged.
Police confirmed on Monday that Tony Siketa had been interviewed regarding the matter and was expected to be charged on summons with wilful damage offences.
The maximum penalty for wilful damage if convicted is a $5000 fine or six months’ jail.
Mr Siketa, 61, was allegedly caught in a sting after Socialist Alliance members installed a camera on Hughes St when two other posters of Hamlyn Heights ward candidate Angela Carr had been stolen and damaged.
Tim Gooden, on behalf of Socialist Alliance, lodged a formal complaint to both police and the Victorian Electoral Commission on September 29, which included footage captured four days earlier.
It was alleged that between September 18-25 Mr Siketa “removed, cut down and attempted to destroy three election signs” erected on Hughes St.
Mr Gooden said the footage allegedly showed Mr Siketa “attempting to set fire to the election poster, cut the face of the poster out with a Stanley knife, slashing the face on the poster with a large hunting type knife and defacing the poster with a black textas”.
Mr Siketa told the Addy he defaced just one poster and claimed to have only used a marker.
In what has been at times a spiteful council election campaign, a Newtown landowner last week reported Greens candidate Emilie Flynn to police over what he claimed was criminal damage.
Ms Flynn used a cordless drill to screw her corflute to the fence of Kardinia Park Car Sales.
The Kardinia ward candidate said she was given permission by the business, has since apologised and promised to repair the damage.
It is understood police will not take any action over the incident.
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